To ensure the safety in Govt buses in state, Himachal Govt is looking to come out with unique plan and mulling to introduce conductor-less special buses for women during evening hours.
This innovative solution is a brainchild of Transport Minister GS Bali, who wants to make state safe heaven for women. Bali said that though the safety of women is not an issue in Himachal, but the government cannot lower the guard and has to take required measures to pre-empt any possibility of crime against women, particularly in buses.
Elaborating his proposal, he said most of the incidents had taken place in moving buses and conductor-less vehicles would help prevent any such eventuality as the driver would be the lone male and he could not abandon the steering. Such buses would be plied from 5 pm to 10 pm in all major towns where a large number of women and girls commute daily for education or work.
Besides places like Shimla, Solan, Dharamsala, Mandi, Kangra and other towns, special bus services would also be plied in Baddi, Barotiwala, Nalagarh, Kala Amb and other industrial areas. Further, to keep a track of buses and ensure that they adhered to the allotted route and timings, GPS-based vehicle tracking systems would be installed on all buses and other commercial vehicles in a phased manner, he said.
GS Bali is known for his managerial acumen and had already made sea changes during his last tenure and is expected to do a good job and make transport department again as profitable and likable.
